ESPN is reporting that Oakland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will be accepting the same position with the New York Jets, replacing Bob Sutton. It's a logical fit, as Ryan was Eric Mangini's first choice two years ago, but Al Davis refused to let Ryan leave. There is also a bit of a family tie-in, as Rob's father Buddy was on the defensive staff of Weeb Ewbank's Super Bowl winning club.

Comments

Really annoying, I wanted the niners to sign him as DC after sacking Nolan and hiring Jim Schwartz as HC.

Good move for the Jets, look for the Jets to make a run at Asomugha if he hits free agency.

3

by B (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 3:56pm

Wait, why did Oakland fire Ryan in the first place?

4

by James, London (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 3:56pm

What's the reason for Ryan jumping so quickly? I'd have thought he'd have at least interviewed for HC jobs.

5

by Charger Jeff (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 3:58pm

James, this is the scraggly, harley-riding Ryan brother, not the clean cut one.

6

by Doug Farrar :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 4:05pm

So, the Jets switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 with extremely dodgy results, and then they hire the 4-3 Ryan brother.

Hmmm...

7

by NY expat (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 4:06pm

Yay! Asomugha would be a terrific pick-up, but would Davis really let him go? Besides, there's still that little issue of the Jets D-line.

8

by NY expat (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 4:09pm

re: 3

The article states that Ryan is expected to be let go so that Lane can hire his dad, but nothing is not official yet. The reason mentioned is disappointment with the performance of Oakland's defense this year.

9

by NY expat (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 4:10pm

obviously, that should have been "nothing is official yet"

10

by James, London (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 4:33pm

#5

I know. I still think he's worth an interview. Perhaps he doesn't.

11

by Wanker79 (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 5:07pm

I'm not sure whether congratulations or condolences are in order?? As a semi-fan of the Jets (they're my AFC squad) I'm very happy, but I can't see how Ryan could possibly be viewing this as a positive.

But Rob Ryan was with the Pats for a while, so how is he necessarily the 4-3 Ryan brother?

14

by Karl Cuba (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 5:46pm

It isn't right to call Rob Ryan the 4-3 brother, he tried to install a 3-4 when he arrived in Oakland, he just didn't have the personnel. (They then moved back to a 4-3 but left the 4-3 defensive ends that they had moved to OLB in the 3-4 at linebacker, resulting in the softest underneath pass defense I've ever seen.)

The problem that the Jets may have is that they now have two coaches who have a history of trying to install a 3-4 without the right players. BB kind of does things the other way around.

The Monte Kiffin to team up with Lane doesn't sound like the smartest idea I've ever heard either. The Raiders have invested hugely in fast, cover corners, and now they're about to change to a Tampa-2? I suppose it would suit Burgess, Huff, Howard and Morrison. Maybe even Schweigert, but Rout and Washington are terrible fits.

There's a lot of reasons why people might think the move is dodgy, but as a Jets fan, I am excited by the move. Sutton was a terrible DC ... more of a yes-man than anyone with a sense of his own direction or even stones.

Hmm...
Did the Jets gain a competitive advantage by speaking to him while he was still under contract to the Raiders in violation of NFL rules?
And wouldn't that make them ... cheaters?
Just wondering...

17

by Jimmy (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 7:35pm

#16

Then it looks like Mangini did indeed learn from the master.

18

by Mr Shush (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 9:24pm

James, while I completely agree that Ryan ought to be a head coaching candidate, he didn't get interviews last season when his unit had just had a great year. This season they stank. Dude's just going to have to shave.

I can't see the Jets changing systems, so they'll have to target a nose tackle in free agency or the draft. If they do, they should be fine. Vilma should have been traded at the end of last season: his (perceived) value would have been higher.

19

by Chris M (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 9:28pm

As a Jets fan, I'm pretty stoked if this is true.

Although, let me get this straight - he likes the 3-4, but has used the 4-3? If so, does that mean he might be able to find some use for Vilma?

20

by Raiderjoe (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 9:45pm

re16
You bet Jets pay hefty price for stealing R Ryan even though Raiders dont want him anyway.
Raiders get exztra draft pick.
M Kiffin better than R Ryan. Move work out for Raiders. Raiders moving on up to the east side with this move.

21

by B (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 11:33pm

Is Monte Kiffin's contract up? How are the Raiders going to get him from Tampa without also being cheaters?

22

by CaffeineMan (not verified) :: Wed, 01/02/2008 - 11:40pm

According to the article, Monte's contract is up at the end of this season.

Isn't Oakland ALREADY on the East side? Or is Al Davis going to open a dry cleaning biz in Manhattan? Am confused.

25

by Scott (not verified) :: Thu, 01/03/2008 - 3:43am

Monte Kiffin going to Oakland is pretty f*cking ridiculous. The guy makes more $$$ in Tampa Bay as a DC than his son does as a HC in Oakland. Why would someone ever leave a good-paying job in Florida to go work under their son, for a schizophrenic boss (Al Davis) in crappy Oakland?

26

by Bright Blue Shorts (not verified) :: Thu, 01/03/2008 - 8:36am

Ryan appears to be a good DC becase last season the Raiders defense appeared to play well. With one of the most feckless offenses in NFL history they appeared to keep the team in games. This season the defense has been ok, but nowhere to the believed standard of 2006 despite returning all 11 starters. The defense has been terrible at defending the run most of Ryan's tenure.

I'm not convinced the defense was that good in 2006. Against the Browns early in the season, the Raiders were leading 21-3 mid 2nd quarter. The Browns were able to come back to win 24-21. This in Charlie Frye's 9th career start. And where is he now?

The following week against the 49ers they led 10-7 at halftime, but gave up 27 second half points.

These offenses were not the 98 Vikings, 04 Colts or 07 Patriots. Can you imagine the Ravens, Bucs or Patriots defense's allowing those situations to happen?

27

by TGT (not verified) :: Thu, 01/03/2008 - 11:51am

@16 There's nothing that says The Jets didn't have permission to talk to him or Ryan didn't have permission to talk to other teams. To me, it seems likely that the Raiders might have let Ryan feel around for other jobs when they let him go, if not before.

Interesting that as of today, Rob Ryan is still the Defensive Co-ordinator of the Oakland Raiders....

29

by Raiderjoe (not verified) :: Thu, 01/03/2008 - 1:33pm

re24
It means Raiders moving on up to great things.

Also M Kiffin would go to Raiders because he probablyretire soon and want to finish career working and helping his son

30

by givinghimthebusiness (not verified) :: Thu, 01/03/2008 - 3:28pm

Let's wait for an official announcement here. I'm very excited as a Jets fan, but I don't want to jinx it. Wouldn't Rob at least wait to see if Rex gets the gig in Baltimore first? On a slightly related Ryan note, is it just me, or do other people expect to see Buddy flying into view every time Kevin Gilbride is shown on the sideline?

31

by jetsgrumbler (not verified) :: Thu, 01/03/2008 - 6:05pm

re 6: I think it's a little disingenuous, or at least misleading, to call Rob Ryan "the 4-3 Ryan brother" when he was the linebackers coach for three years in New England.